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Bob Cooney

The Sixers face the struggling New Orleans Hornets, who have lost 7 of their last 10 after starting the season 11-1.

Here are some keys for the Sixers today:

*Get good bench production from others besides Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams. The Sixers have five games in the next seven days. Coach Doug Collins can't rely solely on the seven-man rotation he did last week.

*Don't give up easy, back-breaking baskets to David West. If their is a typical "mop-up" guy in the league, it's West. He seems to come up with back-breaking, unexpected baskets more than anyone in the league.

*Contain Chris Paul's dribble penetration. Too many bad things happen when Paul gets a head of steam heading towards the basket. If they can limit that, it slows New Orleans down big time.

*Don't let Marco Belinelli get open looks from three-point range. He is a streaky shooter. If he gets a couple to go down, that could turn into five.

*Rebound. This is key to starting the fast break. The Sixers have been running very well lately because they've been rebounding.

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The Sixers have recalled Craig Brackins from Springfield, of the D-League.

In five games for Springfield, Brackins averaged 17.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.80 blocks in 37.4 minutes per game.

He has appeared in one game for the Sixers this season, scoring 6 points in 10 minutes at Toronto on Nov. 24. He was sent to the D-League on Nov. 30.